500 S&W

[Lee Martin]

500 X-frame, 5-shots, 50 yards, bench rested, 2x Weaver scope:





The load was 35.0 of H110 with a 465 grain Leadheads GC.

If you shoot 500 Mag, you may want to try this combination. My X-frame loves it.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[Deleted]

Nice shooting. I've never shot a 500 Smith. What's the recoil like at that level?

[joej]

That's a nice mid-level load and in my JR500 with a 5" non-ported barrel, I got 1,348fps with an SD of 2. IMR-4227 and N120 works well with that X-frame also.

[sixshooter]

Joej: I too like 4227 in the 500. Lee's load is anything but midlevel though. 35 grains with that bullet is 1 to 1 1/2 grains from maximum. Even the 440 tops out at 38 grains of 110.

[joej]

You’re probably right Dick, but the Hodgdon loads show max at 49K to 52K and one can probably push the X-frame just a wee bit more if you have the desire.

I use the WLP primer in place of the rifle primer and have found the difference to be between 25 and 35 fps less using the WLP. I think I’m probably getting a little less peak pressure. Shooting the non-ported 500, it’s the felt recoil that gets to me. The H110 seems to have a sharper snap to it than 4227 and I find that a bit irritating with a bit over the top loads.

33 grains of IMR4227 with a 535 grain Keith is pretty decent, as it zips along at 1,245fps with a SD of 5 in my revolver.

If you stay with the books, the 500 JRH will give the X-frame a run for its money up to 440 grains, as I stopped “pushing” at 1,462fps with the 440 grain using H110 in the JRH. I lost a little blood shooting that load with micarta grips – with rubber grips I needed a glove to save a little skin on my trigger finger.

Myself, I don’t have a need for much over 1,100fps with those 2 calibers and the recoil is pleasant.

Lee, you can get a stainless plug for that keyhole ya know.

[whitworth]

Nice shooting as usual, Lee!

[Lee Martin]

Aug 6, 2011 18:33:52 GMT -5 @bigbore454 said:

Nice shooting. I've never shot a 500 Smith. What's the recoil like at that level?

Very little muzzle jump...all the recoil is straight back on your palm and wrist. That said, I put a 100 rounds thru it that outing and wasn't hurt.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[Lee Martin]

Aug 6, 2011 20:38:19 GMT -5 sixshooter said:

Joej Lee's load is anything but midlevel though. 35 grains with that bullet is 1 to 1 1/2 grains from maximum

The powder is just starting to compress at 35 grains with the 465. Should be around 50,000 PSI, so I'd say 36 - 37 is tops with that slug.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[Lil Dudey]

Lee very nice shooting. I hope to get a S&W 500 sometime later on. Thanks for sharing.